Good Investment roared through the sloppy Lightning Lane to triumph in the opening leg of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial on Friday (March 10) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Recollect took the other $11,000 split in the series for three- and four-year-old pacing colts, horses and geldings.
The event honours the memory of the late trainer/driver Wilbur Zendt, patriarch of one of The Meadows’ most successful and influential families.
Slipmeamiki wrested the early lead from Good Investment but was parked to do so in a testing :27.3. That left him vulnerable to the pocket-sitting Good Investment, who poured through for Aaron Merriman and defeated Slipmeamiki by a length in 1:55.2, with Flite Craft third.
Dave Zito owns and trains Good Investment, a four-year-old Racing Hill-Sea Cruise Hanover gelding who won for the seventh time in 20 lifetime outings.
Recollect took to the track before it was downgraded from “good,” but the surface condition probably wasn’t a factor, as Recollect ably protected rail position and prevailed comfortably in 1:55.4 for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stable, Jim Simpson and Joe DiScala. Shotguninthehotsun was second, 3-1/2 lengths back, while Tankalicious earned show.
Dave Palone piloted four winners and Merriman three on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, first post 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)